Envelope moistener and sealer



Oct. 10, 1950 H. E. FORSBERG 7 2,525,291

ENVELOPE MOISTENER AND SEALER Filed Oct. 2, 1947 Patented Oct. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE MOISTENER AND SEALER Hjalmer E. Forsberg, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Crescent Manufacturing Company, Rockford,

111., a copartnership Application October 2, 1947, Serial No. 777,492

19 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved envelope moistener and sealer.

I am aware that efforts have been made to provide a simple and practical form of moistening and sealing device for ready use in oflices and elsewhere for the purpose stated, but those previously proposed have 'apparently all been subject to one serious objection or another, and

Experimentation with devices of this kind showed that one of the most difficult problems to overcome was that of feeding the water to the sponge or other applicator in the correct amount, so as to supply enough, but not too much, water to moisten the glued portion of the flap without too much wetting of the back of the envelope, and possibly also depositing drops here and there. In that connection, I have found that a most satisfactory applicator is a sponge rubber body with a much less porous skin covering on the back, whereby water in the correct amount is supplied by capillary attraction through the porous main body portion While wetting the back only to a small extent. This construction is of advantage not only from the standpoint of proper moistening of the envelope flap and less moistening of the back of the'envelope, but is of further advantage in reducing evaporization of water through the sponge applicator. Also, the degree of compression of the sponge-rubber is enough to suitably restrict the flow of water to supply only enough but not too much water to the outer end of the sponge which wets the glued side of the envelope flap. 7

Another problem in the design and construction of a device of the kind mentioned is to moisten the flap while holding it at a small angle in relation to. the presser blade so that the envelope will not become distorted in sealing, but will lie fiat when sealed. I have found that by making the applicator sponge fairly Wide and relatively thin and beveled off on the side toward the presser blade, the flap is disposed at such a small angle to the blade in the moistening of its glued inner side that there is no danger of the envelope being distorted when sealed. The

shape of the presser blade is also very important, because it must slide easily over the flap and yet apply pressure uniformly the entire width of the 5 moistened glued edge portion, and I have found that if the finger of the blade is inclined inwardly toward the sponge with its end portion twisted to leave only the trailing edge portion in contact with the flap, the blade operates with least drag, and yet has sufficient bearing contact on the flap to do a good job of sealing, but if the extreme tip portion is furthermore bentforwardly, that is, toward the sponge, the operation is greatly F improved. I have also found that if a light spring wire is provided to give yielding support to the trailing edge portion of the sponge rubber applicator, on that side toward the presser blade, the applicator Will retain its shape indefinitely, and .the efiiciency of operation is furthermore greatly improved by maintaining the proper space relationship between the applicator and presser blade.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front view of the envelope moistener and sealer made in accordance with my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the device in use in'moistening and simultaneously sealing .the envelope;

3 Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line 33 of ""corresponding parts throughout these views.

The tubular barrel 5, which at present is made of, metal but may, of course, be of a plastic or other suitable material, serves as the water reservoir and also as the operating handle for the device, and has a removable plug 6 of cork or solid rubber or any other suitable material pressed into the rear end thereof. Another similar plug 1 is pressed into the other end of the barrel, but that plug is cut in half lengthwise, as

i'ndicated at 8 in Fig. 3, to provide a space for the outer end, as indicated at I0, and beveled off on the working face II, as indicated at I2, toward the outer end Ill and toward the one longitudinal edge portion l3, that being theside toward the presser blade [4. The sponge 9 on that side opposite the working face H has a thin, slightly poa semi-cylindrical cross-section throughout the 4 length of that portion disposed in the barrel. The" compression of the sponge 9 suitably restricts the seepage of water through the sponge to the ex; posed applicator end so that only enough 'but;r 1ot" too much water may be supplied for wetting'the' flap on the envelope. The bolt [1 used for fastening the bent end It of the arm 19 which cal?" ries the presser blade I4 is entered through a hole in the Wall of the barrel 5, and has: a nut 29 threaded thereon inside the barrel and the projectingfportion of th'ef bolt iT and the nut arein that'half of the'barrel section receiving the sponge s 'asfindicate d in dottedlinesfinFig,3;

operation, and the sealing in another operation. Furthermore, there is no danger of getting the envelope flap dirty in the event the operators fingers are not clean at the time, and the s erm 5 tor does not have to get his or her hands wet.

The skin covering I5 on the back of the applicator 9 reduces the extent to which the back oi the envelope is moistened, only enough water being deposited there to insure Quicker and bet 1o ter sealing; The beveled face I? is of advantage not. only in assuring wider area of contact be tween the applicator 9 and the glued edge portion of the flap,'thusinsuring wetting of the entire glued portion, as required for good sealing, but it 15. "enables leepingjth'e"fiap at such. a small angle with respectto. the presser blade I4 that the envelopewhen sealed 111 lie f at ans riot Show evidences of any distrti'c'ifi dueto a twist or stress inthe flap at the time of sealing. The wire 22 2'0 bracing; the sponge rubber applicator 9 along its beveled edge prevents sidewise defiectien ef the 'appli cator,a nd keeps it alw ys iii the proper sp at ed relationsliifi to ft ijpr er blade :4 for mostjeffieieiit eperatiori. When the, device islaid i t 1 1 8 1 C be driven intofthe fi fi ie downfona desk, it is turriedso' thatithe applica without any difiicultyIffThe b it' j|1 aiseservesto n ho the l pe a ta hing. 6 12 1 f. l pri wire' brace 22 that is provided on one side of the end of barrel 5 to support the projecting end iii) covering l5 reduces the loss of fwater'and the of he S e! e stl fie ion l te all f r ward the blade I 4 in the moistening of the sap of an envelope, the wire22 being arched around the eese? '.9 ..1= winner t e sede send hav ng an inwardly bentendpor'tion 2a which is embedded "in the outerend portion of the sponge to anchor the sponge to the wire;

' hies eri aa 1 w m n is. seal,

extension fjof fthe sheetmetalarin; i 9' and is Hisq ede an .eq teen e iih re e to he. longitudinal centerline: of the barrel so that it exleave" the tfailing edge "25" in contact withflthe fiapgtof the envelope z'lfwh'en the device. is in operationto moisten and seal the flap of anene a slighthook and that jhas been found to improve the-operation of the'presser blade' con iderably.

The blade I 4 and arm I 9.may be moldedof plastic-material to the form specified,'and either ap-..

plied to the end of the barrel or formed as. in integral extension thereof. I

In operation, thesponge rubber applicator is first placed with its working .facel Iv over the glued'edgeportion of thefiap 26. atoneendof the ef i n r ct on in i at by he anew 2a ofthe'fiap byjmeans of theporous side of the.

applicator 9 while slightlywetting the backof covered side -I 5 slightly i 'j rente w he k n in advancefof the presser blade 14,. the blade l4 v n 1 3 5 he fl p down to seal the envelope I in thesame operation. This obviously means a saving in time because of the combination of two operations in one, and I have found that anyone, even though mechanically unskilled, can vbecome quite proficient in the use of this device 1 111?; short t me, and when once accustomed to 7 tends toward'the applicatorj sponge, and its outer p i h l fi s r'bladejm isplaced against he outer s de of the end portion of the. flap and the devlce 1S moved towardftheflother end oilthe 75 pose described.

tors'ponge is spaced iroin the desk top so that there is sewa e-rig of watei' arid no messing bf the des kf I f is earelessliy down with the applicater contact with thedesk; the skin extent ofwetting of the desk.

It ,is] believed the foregoing'i clescriptionucori veys a good understanding of 'the' obje'ct's'and advantages of my 'iriveritinfj The app endecl 35 Claims ave'been dijawri tobtiveiiall'legitiniate modifications, and adaptations claim 1. 'In an envelopemoistening and sealing device comprising an elongated. tubular reservoir hav- 40 ingv an open end onwhich is carried a presser blade extending laterally and then ,forwardly from the reservoir saidre's'ervoir adapted to conerating. said. device, the. improvement comprising wantappiieetor the formfof wan elongatedplug V velope; The tip portion 28 of the presser bladeis... moreover bent war t e. spongeQ i n .the form cf of 1com'pressible and resilient absorbent material settedas' closure in the open-end of said reser VQII; aid plug projecting from; the end of said reservoir and adapted t6 haifg-,orie, face1of itsprojecting end portion wipedacross-the glued inner side ofthe fiap'of an envelopdwhen the same is i i dcdr sition preparatory to beiiiglpresscd 1 down byr the presser bladetolseal the envelope.

the-compression of that end portion of saidplug entered-in said reservoir suitably restricting the seepage of water fed to the exposedapplic'ator end portion from the reservoir. 2. ;;A devicelas-set forth in claim 1, wherein said H '6 pplicator. has. 1n F 2, w er by to wet properly the'gluedisid that face thereof oppos te the flap engaging face of -reduc'ed. porosity so as the envelope.

the extent of wetting of the back of the envelope.

4. A device as set forth in claim: I, wherein said 70 appl cator is of sponge rubber with an integral slightly porous rubber skin oovering on that face DD e p engaging "face for the purpose described-the flap engaging face being tapered on pre erblade for the uron that side toward the tain waterand to begrasped as a' handle-for ope,

one end portionjqf 'Whichiis compressed and in".

to reducepthe. extent of wetting of the back ofj 3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said I applicator is of sponge rubber and-has an integralv sllghtly porous rubber skin covering on that face DDQSltB thezfiap engagingrace so as "to reduce 5. Adevice as set forth in claim 1, wherein said applicator is of small thickness measured from its flap engaging face to the opposite face, and is furthermore tapered off on that .side toward the presser blade for the purpose described.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said applicator is of small thickness measured from its flap engaging face to the opposite face, and is furthermore tapered off on that side toward the presser blade for thepurpose described, thetapering off of said applicator being also toward the outer end.

'7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said applicator is of flexible yieldable material, of the sponge rubber type, the device including a brace projecting from said reservoir alongside and engaging said applicator to resist deflection of said applicator laterally toward said pressure blade in the use of said device.

'8. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said applicator is of flexible yieldable material, of the sponge rubber type, the device including a brace projecting from said reservoir alongside and engaging said applicator to resist deflection of said applicator laterally toward said pressure blade in the use of said device, said brace being of flexible and resilient spring wire adapted to yield under side pressure but tend to return said applicator afterward to norma1 position.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said 0 applicator is of flexible yieldable material, of the sponge rubber type, the device including a brace projecting from said reservoir alongside and engaging said applicator to resist deflection of said applicator laterally toward said pressure blade in the use of said device, said brace being of flexible and resilient spring wire adapted to yield under side pressure but tend to return said applicator afterward to normal position, the free end of said wire being bent to form an anchoring pin portion which is embedded in the material of the applicator to fasten the applicator to said brace.

10. In an envelope moistening and sealing device comprising an elongated tubular reservoir having an open end on which is carried a presser blade extending laterally and then forwardly from the reservoir, said reservoir adapted to contain water and to be gra ped as a handle for operating said device, the improvement comprising a stopper plug for the open end of said reservoir that is formed so as to occupy about half of the bore of said reservoir at said end. and a compressible sponge rubber member of elongated form having one end portion inserted in said bore and compressed and retained in place-in said bore by said plug, said sponge rubber member projecting from the end of said reservoir and adapted to have one face of its projecting end portion wiped across the glued inner side of the flap of an envelope to wet the same, the compre sion of the first end portion of said sponge-rubber member by said plug in said bore suitably restricting the seepage of water fed to the exposed applicator end portion from the reservoir.

11. In an envelope moistening and sealing device comprising an elongated tubular reservoir having an open end on which is carried a presser blade extending laterally and then forwardly from the reservoir, said reservoir adapted to contain water and to be grasped as a handle for operating said device, the improvement comprising a sto per plug for the open end of said reservoir that is formed so as to occupy about half of the bore of said reservoir at said end. a compressible sponge member of elongated form having one end portion inserted in said bore and compressed and 6 retained in place in said bore by said plug, said sponge-rubber member projecting from the end of said reservoir and adapted to have one face of its projecting end portion wiped across the glued inner side of the flap of an envelope to wet the same, the compression of the first end portion of said sponge-rubber member by said plug in said bore suitably restricting the seepage of water fed to the exposedapplicator'end portion from the reservoir, and a wire spring brace engaging the sponge on that side toward said presser blade, said brace extending lengthwise of the protruding end portion of said sponge and having one end fastened with the presser blade to said reservoir water and to be grasped as a handle for operating said device, said reservoir carrying a moistener element on its outer end arranged to be moistened by water fed from said reservoir, the improvement comprising a sheet metal member of L- shape having one end of one arm of the L fastened to said reservoir, the other arm of the L being disposed in laterally spaced relation to said sponge to permit passage freely therebetween of the glued edge portion of a flap on an envelope with the glued side toward said moistener, the last mentioned arm of the L being disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir with its outer end portion closer to the moistener, and said outer end portion being twisted so that only the trailing edge portion remote from the sponge will engage the envelope flap to press it down.

14. A device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the tip portion of said twisted end portion of said arm is bent toward the sponge thereby giving a corresponding inward curvature to the outer end of the edge portion.

15. As an article of manufacture, an absorbent wiper for an envelope moistening device or the like comprising a strip of sponge rubber of generally rectangular shape and cross-section, one face of which is the wiping face, the opposite face having a rubber skin covering more or less closing the pores thereof.

16. As an article of manufacture, an absorbent wiper for an envelope moistening device or the like comprising a strip of sponge rubber of generally rectangular shape and cross-section, one face of which is the wiping face, the opposite face having a rubber skin covering more or less closing the pores thereof, one end of the wiper beingtapered ofi toward one side edge on its wiping face.

17. As an article of manufacture, an absorbent wiper for an envelope moistening device or the like comprising a strip of sponge rubber of generally rectangular shape and cross-section, one face of which is the wiping face, the opposite face having a rubber skin covering more or less closing the pores thereof, one end portion of the wiper being tapered toward the end and toward one side edge on its wiping face.

ubb 1f i tpiikyine 7 e he; p m nt. compg'ising means for varying the size of the por f ni' ei po i ubber. y ccmp cs h'? n e ber '19. "111 a'moist'enin device congprisinga liquid resei flvoir' and a "sponge-rubbep liquid applicator entereciinan opening in saicl reservoir for capillary feed of water to the'applicator, the improvemei tcomprisir g aplugenteyed in the opening alo igeside the applicator andof such a Sizein relatio to the dimensions of the applicator to compress the applicator tolsuch anextent that the pores in the sponge-rubber are reduced in size tosuitably restrictgthe capillary feed.

' JJA MERi QB BERC F REE- W CITED The foliowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 447,809, Coyle Mar. 10,1891 1,244,054 Kendall Oct. 23, 1917 1,495,147 A'veri1l May 27, 1924 1,885,105' 7 Boudette Nov. '1, 1932 1,939,612 Rose. Dec. 12, 1933 2,146,290 Doyle V Feb. '7, 1939 

